Freddie Bell, velvet morning voice talent is a mellifluous voice actor, broadcast-journalist, speaker and National Voice Actor. His vast voice over credits, include hosting several radio programs including the Tom Joyner Morning Show, The Love Train, It’s The Gospel in Tampa, The Freddie Bell Morning Show in radio on KSGS – 950AM, Solid Gold Soul in Minneapolis, plus This is Music, The Freddie Bell Countdown Show and The Minneapolis NAACP Community Affairs television Programs in Minneapolis.
Invite Freddie to your next event or seminar as a Keynote Speaker, covering topics including You Gotta Have H.E.A.R.T., Tuning In to R.A.D.I.O, Maximizing Your Potential, Imagination, The Secret Key To Success, Winning Through Community Service, Dreaming Your Way to Success and a variety of topics related to sales and sales management. Freddie shares ideas and techniques he used to propel Solid Gold Soul Radio into a household name.
Be sure to tell a friend about the Solid Gold Soul Update. You can also subscribe on line to have the Update sent to you automatically. Click on the subscribe link on the right of this page. Also visit http://www.youtube.com/freddiebell950 for some video fun. A few of my video favorites are posted there!

Former “American Idol” contestant Lil Rounds said she tried to stand as strong as possible each week while getting pounded by the judges critiques, including particularly harsh words from Simon Cowell.

But Rounds waited until after cameras stopped rolling to give in to her emotions, the Associated Press reports.

“I will admit there were a couple times where I would just cry like a baby because I felt like I went out there and was giving my all and it kept getting pushed down,” said Rounds, who was voted off by viewers last week.

While the judges showed much affection toward favorite Adam Lambert, they described Rounds as karaoke, unoriginal, and even “a mess.” Rounds believes comments like those cost her votes.

“After they kept hammering, America started feeling like, ‘Oh, maybe they’re right?’ It started to change their opinion about me,” said Rounds, a 24-year-old mother of three from Memphis.

Earlier this month, judge Simon Cowell blasted her performance of “What’s Love Got To Do With It” as a “second- or third-rate version of Tina Turner.”

“I have no idea who you are,” Cowell told Rounds. “You’re not making the impact you should be making on the show. … You’ve got to start becoming more original.”

On another night, Cowell said “you’re not the artist we met” earlier in the contest. At times, Rounds tried to explain her intention to the judging panel — but she never lost her cool.

“I have to keep it classy. The second that I ‘go hood’ it’s gonna be a mess. I just decided whatever I say I have to make sure I say it in a way that they understand me and understand I’m not trying to get in an argument.”

Her family in the audience often had a more colorful reaction. Cameras often showed them talking back and gesturing to the judges.

“I’m actually going to miss your family screaming at us every week,” Cowell told Rounds after she was eliminated.

PRINCE HAD EPILEPSY

Prince

In a candid interview with Tavis Smiley Monday night, Prince revealed that he suffered from epilepsy as a child, and that his flashy, over-the-top persona was adopted as a way to compensate for his insecurities.

“I’ve never spoken about this before but I was born epileptic,” the reclusive singer said on Smiley’s PBS show. “I used to have seizures when I was young. My mother and father didn’t know what to do or how to handle it but they did the best they could with what little they had.”

Prince also cites divine intervention for helping him cope with his epilepsy. “My mother told me one day I walked in to her and said, ‘Mom, I’m not going to be sick anymore,’ and she said ‘Why?’ and I said ‘Because an angel told me so.’ Now, I don’t remember saying it, that’s just what she told me.”

“From that point on, I’ve been having to deal with a lot of things, getting teased a lot in school,” he said. “And early in my career I tried to compensate by being as flashy as I could and as noisy as I could.”

The singer, who is promoting his latest album, the three-disc set “LotusFlow3r,” concluded his two-part Tavis Smiley interview on Tuesday.

STUDDARD CULTIVATING FAN BASE

Ruben Studdard

Second season “American Idol” champ Ruben Studdard is back with a new album he hopes will “reconnect me to the 20-some odd million people that voted for me and…are my fans from ‘American Idol.’ ”

“Love IS,” a collection of romantic ballads due May 19 from Hickory Records, gets back to the style of music that fueled his “Idol” victory in 2003, and inspired guest judge Gladys Knight to famously title him “the Velvet Teddy Bear.”

Studdard tells Billboard.com that with his fourth album – produced by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis — along with Stargate and country artist John Rich – “[I] just wanted to do the music the fans always ask me for. Ever since I won ‘American Idol,’ people have always been saying they love the way I sing ballads and would love to have me do an album of love songs. I’ve been in the music business awhile now. I’ve had an opportunity to see exactly what the fans want from me and expect, and I think this is exactly the kind of album they’ve been waiting on.”

“Love IS” also finds Studdard switching labels, from J Records to Hickory Records, which is still distributed by SonyBMG but, Studdard says, is more attuned to that fan demand for ballads.

“I think J Records didn’t do a good job with connecting me to my ‘American Idol’ fan base,” says Studdard, whose last outing, 2006’s “The Return,” was a commercial disappointment that’s sold less then 240,000 copies. “I wanted to make sure we had an opportunity to make the music they want to hear, and we got that.”

Studdard recorded “Love IS” during the first five months of 2008, before he went on the road with the musical “Ain’t Misbehavin’.” The first single, “Together,” which was produced by Stargate, was the last track recorded for the album, he says. Studdard co-wrote several of the tracks, including “A Song For Her” for his wife, Surata, who he married in January of 2008, and “Footprints in the Sand,” which was inspired by the Barack Obama presidential campaign.

“Love IS” also features covers of Michael Jackson’s “I Can’t Help It,” Al Green’s “For the Good Times,” the Beatles’ “The Long and Winding Road,” Extreme’s “More Than Words” and Johnnie Taylor’s “Just Because.” “They’re all favorites of mine,” Studdard says of the choices.

Currently finishing his run with “Ain’t Misbehavin’,” Studdard plans a full-scale promotional tour to support “Love IS,” including TV appearances, in-stores and radio station shows.

USHER INTRODUCES NEW STAR

Usher and Justin

Usher hosted industry folk in Los Angeles Monday to introduce his new protégé Justin Bieber, a 15-year-old who’s currently getting radio airplay with the Chris “Tricky” Stewart-produced single “One Time.”

Ursh’s sit-down lunch took place at The Sunset Tower Hotel and promoted the Stratford, Ontario-born teen who was discovered on YouTube by manager Scooter Braun, a former So So Def marketing executive, after Bieber began posting homemade videos from his 2007 second-place contestant stint on a local singing competition.

A chance meeting with Usher led to an audition and later to a recording contract offered last October by Island Def Jam chairman Antonio “L.A.” Reid, reports Billboard.com.

Bieber is currently in Atlanta recording “My World,” his Island Records debut due later this year. Songwriting/production collaborators so far include The-Dream and Midi Mafia. A video for “One Time” was shot on Monday.

Staying at the lunch event only long enough to introduce Bieber, Usher described the artist as a “young phenomenon. He’s definitely a priority for me and Island Def Jam.”

A musician as well, the fresh-faced Bieber performed a short acoustic set during which he played keyboards, guitar and the congas—adding that he’s been playing full drums since he was two years old. “I guess you can say I’ve been blessed with talent,” says Bieber.

Black History Fact

Apr. 29, 1922: First day of L.A riots, sparked by acquittal of four white cops in the beating of Rodney King, which resulted in at least 50 deaths, thousands injured and estimates of up to $1 billion in property damage.

Freddie Bell, velvet morning voice talent is a mellifluous voice actor, broadcast-journalist, speaker and National Voice Actor. His vast voice over credits, include hosting several radio programs including the Tom Joyner Morning Show, The Love Train, It’s The Gospel in Tampa, The Freddie Bell Morning Show in radio on KSGS – 950AM, Solid Gold Soul in Minneapolis, plus This is Music, The Freddie Bell Countdown Show and The Minneapolis NAACP Community Affairs television Programs in Minneapolis.
Invite Freddie to your next event or seminar as a Keynote Speaker, covering topics including You Gotta Have H.E.A.R.T., Tuning In to R.A.D.I.O, Maximizing Your Potential, Imagination, The Secret Key To Success, Winning Through Community Service, Dreaming Your Way to Success and a variety of topics related to sales and sales management. Freddie shares ideas and techniques he used to propel Solid Gold Soul Radio into a household name.
Be sure to tell a friend about the Solid Gold Soul Update. You can also subscribe on line to have the Update sent to you automatically. Click on the subscribe link on the right of this page. Also visit http://www.youtube.com/freddiebell950 for some video fun. A few of my video favorites are posted there!

Kobe Bryant reportedly tried one of his famous head fakes on Spike Lee, right before the filmmaker began rolling on “Kobe: Doin’ Work,” a day-in-the-life documentary about the player’s lifestyle.

Once Lee and his film crew were ready to begin shooting, the Los Angeles Lakers star demanded to have creative control over the documentary, forcing the director to drive to his house to beg for a meeting to save the project, claims the New York Post’s Page Six.

Lee’s rep denies the story, calling it “completely baseless.”

The column reported Monday:

Lee had worked for months to get permission from Bryant, the Lakers team, coach Phil Jackson, the NBA and ESPN, which will air the day-in-the-life documentary on May 16. The director had already flown to Los Angeles, where 30 cameras were in place for the April 13, 2008, Lakers game against the San Antonio Spurs.

But suddenly Bryant said he wouldn’t cooperate unless he was granted creative control, sources said. Lee tried several times to call Bryant, who wouldn’t accept his calls. So Lee, at the suggestion of ESPN broadcaster Stephen A. Smith, drove to Bryant’s house in a gated community, where Bryant refused to see him, sources said.

“It went so far that Lee had a last-minute plan to substitute Spurs star Tim Duncan for Kobe and make the whole documentary about Duncan,” said our source. But Kobe and Spike somehow worked it out, and Lee is being a good soldier promoting the Kobe picture, which screened Saturday night at the Tribeca Film Festival.

“Spike Lee completely yielded,” said one insider. “And at the start of the film, when Kobe arrives at the Staples Center and sees Spike with the camera, he gives him a big smile and thumbs up, showing he knows he won the battle.”

FOX SAYS “NO” TO THE PRESIDENT

President Obama

Guess which network has decided not to air President Obama’s prime time address tomorrow night? And the news-less CW doesn’t count.

While ABC, NBC and CBS are giving up precious sweeps month real estate for the president’s press conference marking his first 100 days, Fox announced Monday that it will instead stick to its regular programming – an episode of “Lie to Me.”

The network, known for its conservative news slant, is the lone broadcast channel that turned down President Obama’s request for the time.

Tomorrow night’s speech will be the third prime time news conference in Obama’s 100-day presidency. It also marks the first time a broadcast network has refused his request.

BRAXTON IMPERSONATOR

Trina Finn

The woman jailed in Suriname for allegedly impersonating Toni Braxton during a concert has given an update on her status.

Trina Johnson-Finn says she was told by the event’s promoter that her appearance would be understood as a tribute performance, and not passed off to ticket holders as a performance by the real singer. After Johnson was arrested and taken into custody, the promoter took off with the money and has not been heard from since.

Johnson’s court appearance for May 7 has been changed, her husband Raymond Finn said in an e-mail to EURweb. “The judge scheduled to hear her case had previously [seen] Trina during one of the earlier appeals and under Suriname law, cannot re-hear her case at trial. As a result, she has to appear in court on May 5th to hopefully be assigned a new judge.”

According to Jeter, Trina has been moved to a prison facility called Santaboma. “She is in her own cell now so she has a bit more privacy,” said Jeter.

In the meantime, a benefit concert for Johnson will be held May 2 at the Legends Ranch in Las Vegas from 12 p.m. – 8 p.m. with entertainment from “headliners, comedians, tribute artists, bands and DJ’s. For direct online ticket sales go t http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/64384

Finn encourages folks to visit his wife’s Facebook page and RSVP for the benefit festival, even if you’re not planning to attend. “This will help us with numbers to push the corporate sponsorships,” he says. “If you’re actually coming and attending and want to purchase tickets online, you can just click on Trina Johnson-Finn Benefit Festival – Tickets – MSN City Guides.”

General admission will be $10; general admission with lunch will be $25 and VIP with BBQ, preferred parking and seating will be $40

SWINE FLU OUTBREAK CONTINUES GROWING

The swine flu virus outbreak spread to two more states and the total number of cases confirmed in the U.S. jumped to 64, health officials said. That figure is expected to keep rising.

“I do expect more cases and expect more states to be effected.” Rear Admiral Dr. Anne Schuchat, interim deputy director for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s science and public health program, told a Senate hearing today. “I think we need to be prepared that even if it starts to look a little better, it may get a little worse.”

California has confirmed 13 cases of swine flu, but it is investigating whether two deaths were the result of the virus. If confirmed, they would be the first deaths in the U.S. attributed to the illness.

Indiana and Florida both reported incidences of swine flu today, bringing to seven the number of states where the infections are being investigated.

Indiana State Health Commissioner Judy Monroe said the first confirmed case in her state was a young adult. She said that unlike many other cases identified in the U.S., the Indiana patient had not recently traveled to Mexico.

In Orlando, Fla., the chief medical officer at Florida Hospital Loran Hauck indicated the flu has spread to a tourist who visiting the crowded Disney World.

“A case was diagnosed here in Orlando today on a tourist from Mexico who came to Disney attractions two days ago to visit,” Hauck wrote in the email. Florida health officials have not confirmed that the tourist was stricken with swine flu.

Indiana joins Ohio, New York, Texas, Kansas and California as states with confirmed cases.

The outbreak is expected to keep growing because the CDC said today the new count includes “a number of hospitalizations.”

The biggest increase occurred in New York City where the number of cases leaped from 28 to 45, the CDC said.

Black History Fact

Apr. 28, 1967: World Boxing Association and New York State Athletic Commission withdrew recognition of Muhammad Ali as world heavyweight boxing champion because of his refusal to serve in the U.S. armed forces.
______________________________________________________________________________Celebrity Birthdays

Rapper Too Short is 43.

Rapper Big Gipp of Goodie Mob is 36

_______________________________________________________________________________Words To the Wise

“Discipline is the soul of an army. It makes small numbers formidable, procures success to the weak and esteem to all.” – by George Washington

Freddie Bell, velvet morning voice talent is a mellifluous voice actor, broadcast-journalist, speaker and National Voice Actor. His vast voice over credits, include hosting several radio programs including the Tom Joyner Morning Show, The Love Train, It’s The Gospel in Tampa, The Freddie Bell Morning Show in radio on KSGS – 950AM, Solid Gold Soul in Minneapolis, plus This is Music, The Freddie Bell Countdown Show and The Minneapolis NAACP Community Affairs television Programs in Minneapolis.
Invite Freddie to your next event or seminar as a Keynote Speaker, covering topics including You Gotta Have H.E.A.R.T., Tuning In to R.A.D.I.O, Maximizing Your Potential, Imagination, The Secret Key To Success, Winning Through Community Service, Dreaming Your Way to Success and a variety of topics related to sales and sales management. Freddie shares ideas and techniques he used to propel Solid Gold Soul Radio into a household name.
Be sure to tell a friend about the Solid Gold Soul Update. You can also subscribe on line to have the Update sent to you automatically. Click on the subscribe link on the right of this page. Also visit http://www.youtube.com/freddiebell950 for some video fun. A few of my video favorites are posted there!

Sony/Screen Gems sent out a Twitter “tweet” on Sunday that said the $28.5 million opening weekend for their Beyonce film “Obsessed” is the second biggest opening in the studio’s history.

The thriller stars Knowles and Idris Elba as a couple whose ideal marriage is threatened when a psychotic temp played by Ali Larter begins stalking the husband.

“Obsessed” also holds the title of the biggest opening ever for a last-week-of-April release, beating previous record holder “Mean Girls” ($24.4M). It also gives Beyonce the best opening of her career as an above-the-title star, topping 2003’s “The Fighting Temptations” ($11.7M) and “Cadillac Records” ($3.4M) from late 2008.

As previously reported, Terrence Howard’s “Fighting” came in third at the weekend box office with $11.4 million, and Jamie Foxx’s “The Soloist” earned fourth place with $9.7 million.

PRINCE TALKS WITH TAVIS

Prince

Prince taped a sit-down interview with Tavis Smiley for the journalist’s PBS talk show that will run over the course of two shows, beginning tonight.

Among the many topics discussed is how he dealt with other kids teasing him as a child.

“Of course I went into self and I taught myself music,” said the artist. “My father left the piano in the house when he left, and I wasn’t allowed to play it when he was there because I wasn’t as good as him. So when he left, I was determined to get as good as him.”

Prince is currently promoting his new album “Lotus Flow3r,” a 3-disc bundle that includes “Elixir,” the debut CD from his latest protégé Bria Valente. Prince is joined by Valente on Tuesday night’s “Tavis Smiley.”

RIHANNA SAYS RETURN THE GOODS

Rihanna

Rihanna was rocking $1.4 million worth of borrowed jewelry the night of her altercation with Chris Brown, which instantly became police evidence in an ensuing investigation.

Nearly three months later, the lenders are starting to sweat the singer for their pieces. Her attorney, Donald Etra, filed a motion Tuesday asking that Los Angeles police and prosecutors return the pair of earrings and three rings that they seized. All were made of “yellow metal” and all but one includes “white stones,” according to the filing.

Etra argues that photographs of the items will satisfy the needs of attorneys and asks the court “to order the return of the property to (Rihanna) without further delay.” The motion states that Brown’s attorney and a Los Angeles Police Department detective overseeing the case do not object to the return of the items.

The filing indicates the jewelry was loaned to the singer by four companies, which want the items back for new events overseas.

The jewelry was part of the ensemble that Rihanna, whose real name is Robyn Rihanna Fenty, was wearing when Brown allegedly beat her while driving home from a pre-Grammy party.

OPRAH BATTLES MUTUAL OF OMAHA

Oprah

The exclamation “aha” has been in existence for many years, but was anyone saying “Aha moment” before Oprah Winfrey? And did the talk show host ever bother to trademark the phrase? Mutual of Omaha is about to find out.

The insurance company was sent a cease and desist letter by Winfrey’s legal team, demanding they stop their new advertising campaign, which carries the slogan, “Official Sponsor of the Aha Moment.”

In the letter, sent April 21, Winfrey’s camp claims they have the rights to the two words and do not want Mutual of Omaha to mislead her fans into thinking she backs their services.

But according to TMZ.com, Mutual of Omaha fired back with a lawsuit, claiming that even if Oprah had trademark rights to the phrase, she “abandoned” those rights by failing to “police their alleged mark” when other businesses used it in the past.

In the suit, filed Wednesday in federal court in Nebraska, Mutual asks the judge to rule that they have the right to use the phrase in their campaign.

A rep for O tells TMZ, “Harpo has not filed a lawsuit or counterclaim against Mutual of Omaha. We hope to reach an amicable resolution on this issue.”

*In other Oprah news, the billionaire answered a tweet during her “Friday’s Live” show last week that inquired if her current shoulder-length hair is a weave. The TV titan said it was not and proved it by showing a picture of her natural hair length when she arrives to work – before it is straightened and coiffed by her longtime stylist Andre.

Black History Fact

Apr. 27, 1964: Tanganyika and Zanzibar merge to become the East African Nation of Tanzania.
______________________________________________________________________________Celebrity Birthdays

Singer Cuba Gooding of the Main Ingredient is 65.

Singer Ann Peebles is 62.

Singer Herbie Murrell of The Stylistics is 60.

Singer Mica Paris is 40.

_______________________________________________________________________________Words To the Wise

“If we do not learn to live together as friends, we will die apart as fools.” — Martin Luther King

Freddie Bell, velvet morning voice talent is a mellifluous voice actor, broadcast-journalist, speaker and National Voice Actor. His vast voice over credits, include hosting several radio programs including the Tom Joyner Morning Show, The Love Train, It’s The Gospel in Tampa, The Freddie Bell Morning Show in radio on KSGS – 950AM, Solid Gold Soul in Minneapolis, plus This is Music, The Freddie Bell Countdown Show and The Minneapolis NAACP Community Affairs television Programs in Minneapolis.
Invite Freddie to your next event or seminar as a Keynote Speaker, covering topics including You Gotta Have H.E.A.R.T., Tuning In to R.A.D.I.O, Maximizing Your Potential, Imagination, The Secret Key To Success, Winning Through Community Service, Dreaming Your Way to Success and a variety of topics related to sales and sales management. Freddie shares ideas and techniques he used to propel Solid Gold Soul Radio into a household name.
Be sure to tell a friend about the Solid Gold Soul Update. You can also subscribe on line to have the Update sent to you automatically. Click on the subscribe link on the right of this page. Also visit http://www.youtube.com/freddiebell950 for some video fun. A few of my video favorites are posted there!

Tom Joyner’s weekday morning radio show, themed “The Party with the Purpose,” will begin airing in Chicago again after it was dumped last month from 102.7 WVAZ-FM and replaced by Steve Harvey’s morning program.

TJMS will broadcast on SOUL 106.3FM beginning tomorrow (April 22) from 5 a.m. to 9 a.m. weekdays, while the weekend program, “Right Back At Cha,” will be heard on Saturdays from 9 a.m. -11 a.m.

“Thank you Chicago, and all our friends and family from all over the country,” Joyner said in a statement. “You have spoken, you have written, you have tweeted—and your activism has made a difference in a big way! We are going back on the air and if I could hug and thank each and every one of you individually, I would. Our new home in Chicago is SOUL 106.3FM.”

Chicago was the first radio market that signed on to the Tom Joyner Morning Show when the program and its message started, eventually growing to the 115 markets it serves today, reaching approximately one in four African-Americans.

STEPHEN A. SMITH MOVES ON

Stephen A. Smith

The tweet from ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith came across to his Twitter followers on Friday: “The rumors are true– ESPN and I are parting ways. My statement “Goodbye ESPN!!!”

The ESPN reporter, who once had a show on the network’s ESPN2 titled “Quite Frankly with Stephen A. Smith,” will officially end his tenure with the station on May 1. According to Web site, The Big Lead, Smith’s contract is due to expire after the NBA playoffs and the two parties could not reach a new agreement.

“Apparently, ESPN’s offer was considerably lower than Smith’s previous contracts – which were multi-media faceted – and Smith passed,” the Web site reported. “He was then offered the decision to work through the remainder of his contract, or walk away and still get paid, and a source says Smith decided to work.”

In a statement posted on his Web site, Smith said of his time at ESPN, “It’s been a wonderful, wonderful ride, filled with great accomplishments, great memories and, most importantly, great friendships. It’s difficult to express how appreciative I am to ESPN for all it’s done for my career. But nothing lasts forever. It’s time to move on.

EARTH WIND AN D FIRE HONORED

Earth Wind and Fire

Earth Wind & Fire were feted along with ten other honorees at the 2009 TV Land Awards, which premieres on Sunday (April 26) at 8 p.m. ET/PT on TV Land during a special presentation of TV Land PRIME.

The veteran R&B band were given the Entertainer Award, presented annually to a series or entertainer “whose talent is unmatched and whose fame and longevity are immeasurable,” the network states.

Apr. 21, 1974: Lee Elder becomes the first African American professional golfer to qualify for the Masters Tournament.
______________________________________________________________________________Celebrity Birthdays

Rapper Michael Franti of Spearhead is 43.

_______________________________________________________________________________Words To the Wise

Freddie Bell, velvet morning voice talent is a mellifluous voice actor, broadcast-journalist, speaker and National Voice Actor. His vast voice over credits, include hosting several radio programs including the Tom Joyner Morning Show, The Love Train, It’s The Gospel in Tampa, The Freddie Bell Morning Show in radio on KSGS – 950AM, Solid Gold Soul in Minneapolis, plus This is Music, The Freddie Bell Countdown Show and The Minneapolis NAACP Community Affairs television Programs in Minneapolis.
Invite Freddie to your next event or seminar as a Keynote Speaker, covering topics including You Gotta Have H.E.A.R.T., Tuning In to R.A.D.I.O, Maximizing Your Potential, Imagination, The Secret Key To Success, Winning Through Community Service, Dreaming Your Way to Success and a variety of topics related to sales and sales management. Freddie shares ideas and techniques he used to propel Solid Gold Soul Radio into a household name.
Be sure to tell a friend about the Solid Gold Soul Update. You can also subscribe on line to have the Update sent to you automatically. Click on the subscribe link on the right of this page. Also visit http://www.youtube.com/freddiebell950 for some video fun. A few of my video favorites are posted there!

Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds is launching his new Sodapop Music record label in a partnership with Island Def Jam, which is run by his former LaFace Records partner Antonio L.A. Reid.

The first artist to be released on Sodapop is Kristinia DeBarge (pronounced kris-ti-NEE-a) of the famed DeBarge singing family. The 19-year-old entertainer is the daughter of DeBarge keyboardist and founding member James DeBarge.

Edmonds wrote and produced many of the songs on her debut album, including the current first single “Goodbye.” The singer is scheduled to shoot a video for the track in Los Angeles during the coming weeks.

Sodapop Music is a full-scale label start-up for Babyface, one of his first since LaFace Records (home of Toni Braxton, OutKast, TLC, and Usher).

NATALIE TALKS ABOUT CHEMO TREATMENT

Natalie Cole

Natalie Cole got candid with veteran columnist Liz Smith recently about the chemotherapy treatment she endured while simultaneously touring in support of her latest album.

“Whatever horror stories you have heard about chemo is true,” she reveals to Smith in Los Angeles Confidential magazine. “It is absolutely one of the most debilitating and difficult experiences that could ever happen to a human being.”

Cole underwent a bout of the aggressive therapy in a bid to beat hepatitis C, which the singer says she contracted through her past drug use. Instead of putting her career on hold for the treatments, Cole decided to remain on tour.

“Trying to perform was a real challenge. Just picture an IV (intravenous) hanging from a wardrobe rack in my dressing room in Japan as I tried to prepare for two shows in a night,” she said.

The chemotherapy eventually caused her kidneys to fail, and she’s now hoping for a life-saving transplant.

JACKIE ROBINSON HONORED

Jackie Robinson

Every player, coach, manager and umpire throughout Major League Baseball wore No. 42 yesterday to honor pioneering athlete Jackie Robinson, who wore the number when he broke the sport’s color barrier on the afternoon of April 15, 1947.

A decade before Rosa Parks ignited the Montgomery bus boycott, Robinson became the first black man to play in the major leagues in the 20th century, making his debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers against the Boston Braves at Ebbets Field.

Commissioner Bud Selig said in a statement: “April 15, 1947, is a day that resonates with history throughout Major League Baseball. With all Major League players, coaches and umpires wearing Jackie’s No. 42, we hope to demonstrate the magnitude of his impact on the game of baseball. Major League Baseball will never forget the contributions that Jackie made both on and off the field.”

Robinson’s widow, Rachel Robinson, was on hand at New York’s new Citi Field Wednesday for the dedication of a new rotunda that bears her husband’s name.

“I’m speechless,” she told the crowd. “Jack was actually a very humble man. Some of you who are baseball fans wouldn’t believe that because you only saw him on the field arguing with umpires and trying to beat the other guys. But he was a very humble man. I think he would have been stunned by being acknowledged in this way and remembered in this way. It’s so grand and so beautiful. And the rotunda is not just a physical space but it carries with it so many memories and so many messages.”

Black History Fact

Apr. 15, 1960: Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee organized by young activists at a meeting on the Shaw University campus.
______________________________________________________________________________Celebrity Birthdays

Track star Evelyn Ashford is 52.

Actor Flex Alexander (“One on One”) is 39.

_______________________________________________________________________________Words To the Wise

Freddie Bell, velvet morning voice talent is a mellifluous voice actor, broadcast-journalist, speaker and National Voice Actor. His vast voice over credits, include hosting several radio programs including the Tom Joyner Morning Show, The Love Train, It’s The Gospel in Tampa, The Freddie Bell Morning Show in radio on KSGS – 950AM, Solid Gold Soul in Minneapolis, plus This is Music, The Freddie Bell Countdown Show and The Minneapolis NAACP Community Affairs television Programs in Minneapolis.
Invite Freddie to your next event or seminar as a Keynote Speaker, covering topics including You Gotta Have H.E.A.R.T., Tuning In to R.A.D.I.O, Maximizing Your Potential, Imagination, The Secret Key To Success, Winning Through Community Service, Dreaming Your Way to Success and a variety of topics related to sales and sales management. Freddie shares ideas and techniques he used to propel Solid Gold Soul Radio into a household name.
Be sure to tell a friend about the Solid Gold Soul Update. You can also subscribe on line to have the Update sent to you automatically. Click on the subscribe link on the right of this page. Also visit http://www.youtube.com/freddiebell950 for some video fun. A few of my video favorites are posted there!

A founding member of the famed Philly doo-wop group, the Delfonics, has died.

Randy Cain, who sang on such hits as “La La Means I Love You,” and “Didn’t I (Blow Your Mind This Time),” died Thursday at the age of 63.

As of EUR’s press time, no cause of death was released for Cain, who formed the Delfonics with brothers William and Wilbert Hart while attending Overbrook High in the 1960s.

Cain left the group in ’71 and was replaced by Major Harris. However he came back into the fold sometime in the 80s.

Cain returned for a later incarnation of the group, and for the past several months Cain had been again performing in the Delfonics with William Hart, the group’s lead singer and songwriter and the sole owner of the name of the group.

The reunion was somewhat surprising. In 2002 and 2005, Cain and Wilbert Hart filed and won civil suits against William Hart and against Arista Records/Sony BMG for back royalties.

“I’m gonna miss him. We grew up together since 1968,” Wilbert said of Cain, whom he last saw four or five months ago.

PRESIDENT GAVE THE “OK”

President Barack Obama

Reports indicate that President Obama approved force by the Navy to facilitate the rescue of a US ship captain who was being held by Somali pirates with an AK-47 pointed at him continuously, making him to appear to be constantly at risk. When it was all over, Navy snipers had taken out 3 pirates.

The Associated Press reports that the Defense Department twice asked Obama for permission to use military force to rescue Capt. Richard Phillips from a lifeboat off the Somali coast. Obama first gave permission around 8 p.m. Friday, and upgraded it at 9:20 a.m. Saturday. Officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations said the second order was to encompass more military personnel and equipment that arrived in the Indian Ocean to engage the pirates.

Somali pirates last week boarded the Maersk Alabama off the Horn of Africa. The crew fought back, but Phillips surrendered himself to safeguard his men. Navy ships soon were on their way to the area.

White House officials on Sunday said Obama received regular updates by phone and in person at the White House — including 11 memos — and during his daily intelligence briefings with senior officials. The National Security Council last updated the president on a contingency plan for Phillips at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, according to a timeline of events released Sunday afternoon by the White House.

Reuters is reporting that Somali pirates are not pleased at all with how things turned out for them and were quick to vow revenge on the US as well the French because of their military assault to rescue a yacht on Friday.

“The French and the Americans will regret starting this killing. We do not kill, but take only ransom. We shall do something to anyone we see as French or American from now,” Hussein, a pirate, told Reuters by satellite phone.

PRESIDENTIAL PUP SHOWS UP

Do Diddly Obama

Finally, the Obama girls have their pooch. Word broke Friday that a 6-month-old Portuguese water dog was en route to the White House. By Saturday morning, a leaked photo of the pup, with a lei around its neck, was all over the Internet.

By Saturday night, the whole backstory had come out on TMZ.com and the Washington Post’s website before the official White House announcement that was supposed to take place tomorrow.

Between both websites, it was reported that the puppy’s transfer from a kennel in Texas was facilitated by Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., who owns several Portuguese water dogs himself. The dog, whose original name was reportedly Charlie, had been purchased by a family who wasn’t able to keep him. The kennel then “re-homed” him before receiving word that he would be placed with 10-year-old Malia and 7-year-old Sasha in the White House.

UPDATE: We’ve now learned the real deal as far as where the dog came from and how he got to the Obamas. The bottom line is that Bo-dog is a gift from Senator Ted Kennedy and his wife. The part about the kennel is bogus.

OPRAH DEFENDS SCHOOL

Leadership Academy

In a newspaper interview published Saturday, Oprah Winfrey acknowledged making several mistakes at her girls school in South Africa, but said she remains proud of its success.

As previously reported, four students were expelled and three others were suspended in a second sexual misconduct scandal to hit the Leadership Academy for Girls. There were stories in local papers lat week that the girls were kept in isolation during their disciplinary hearing. Winfrey says the reports are misleading.

“I have made several mistakes and one of them was being overprotective of the girls, which has led to an impression that the school is isolating them from society,” Winfrey was quoted as saying in the Weekend Argus.

Without giving details of the most recent infraction, she told the newspaper that it was “insulting” that the family of one of the expelled girls had complained to the press even though she had been warned before about her behavior.

“Those girls in their own testimony during the (disciplinary) hearing said they knew they were breaking the rules and that they deliberately broke the rules,” the talk show host was quoted as saying.

Winfrey’s $40 million, 28-building campus is the fulfillment of a promise she made to former South African President Nelson Mandela and aims to give poor girls a quality education and prepare them for leadership positions in a country where state schools are struggling to overcome the legacy of white-minority rule.

“The majority of girls are thriving, really fulfilling the dream and vision I had,” Winfrey told the newspaper. “They really have exceeded any expectations I had for them. In spite of everything that’s happened, what keeps me inspired and hopeful is the heart of every girl, because they are wonderful, they are magnificent.”

NO STAMPEDE THIS TIME

A second round of tryouts for “America’s Next Top Model” took place in New York on Saturday to replace the auditions held there last month, when a stampede broke out among hopefuls standing in line.

“This is amazing,” hopeful Regina Villano, 21, told the New York Daily News. “We know where to stand. We know we will be seen. There are lines and checkpoints and police around. I couldn’t be happier.”

Villano was one of 500 ladies who lined up outside the Penn Plaza Pavilion on W. 33rd St., and was also among the disarray that happened during the show’s first attempt at auditions on March 14.

The NYPD complained it wasn’t told in advance about the March event, but it had plenty of notice this time around. At least 40 officers stood guard at four rows of metal barricades.

Also, aspiring models were given wristbands to deter line-cutting and had to go through three checkpoints before getting inside. The girls were warned not to show up before 6 a.m. The doors opened a half-hour later and hopefuls were ushered inside in groups of 20.

Meanwhile, the Daily News’s gossip column “Gatecrasher” is reporting that all of the open cattle calls held around the country are merely publicity stunts, and that producers choose at least some of their contestants during formal, private auditions.

“The producers had already picked some of the girls they wanted in private meetings,” says an “insider” quoted by the paper. “They had to sign agreements promising not to reveal how they were chosen.”

Dehea Abraham says she flew up from Atlanta for the March 14 open call only to be told by a friend that she didn’t stand a chance. “My friend is a dancer who’s represented by a talent agency that also handles models,” Abraham told the Daily News. “Someone from the show saw her MySpace page and invited her to a secret pre-audition. My friend doesn’t really want to model. But she figured she’d try it out. She had to sign a confidentiality agreement.”

Black History Fact

Apr. 13, 1964: Sidney Poitier wins Best Actor Academy Award for his role in “Lilies of the Field.”
______________________________________________________________________________Celebrity Birthdays

Musician Al Green is 63.

Singer Peabo Bryson is 58.

Singer-bassist Louis Johnson of The Brothers Johnson is 54.

Actress Saundra Santiago (“Miami Vice”) is 52.

_______________________________________________________________________________Words To the Wise

“There is only one thing more painful than learning from experience and that is not learning from experience.” — Archibald McLeish

Freddie Bell, velvet morning voice talent is a mellifluous voice actor, broadcast-journalist, speaker and National Voice Actor. His vast voice over credits, include hosting several radio programs including the Tom Joyner Morning Show, The Love Train, It’s The Gospel in Tampa, The Freddie Bell Morning Show in radio on KSGS – 950AM, Solid Gold Soul in Minneapolis, plus This is Music, The Freddie Bell Countdown Show and The Minneapolis NAACP Community Affairs television Programs in Minneapolis.
Invite Freddie to your next event or seminar as a Keynote Speaker, covering topics including You Gotta Have H.E.A.R.T., Tuning In to R.A.D.I.O, Maximizing Your Potential, Imagination, The Secret Key To Success, Winning Through Community Service, Dreaming Your Way to Success and a variety of topics related to sales and sales management. Freddie shares ideas and techniques he used to propel Solid Gold Soul Radio into a household name.
Be sure to tell a friend about the Solid Gold Soul Update. You can also subscribe on line to have the Update sent to you automatically. Click on the subscribe link on the right of this page. Also visit http://www.youtube.com/freddiebell950 for some video fun. A few of my video favorites are posted there!

An e-mail titled “Oprah Millionaire Contest Show,” currently circulating around the Internet, is a big fat scam, says the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The message says the recipient has been nominated to be on “The Oprah Winfrey Show,” during which a winner of the cash will be named. Then it asks the “nominee” for contact information, reports the Los Angeles Times.

Those “chosen” for the show, likely anyone who responds to the e-mail, are told that the next step is to purchase their own airline or train ticket to Chicago for the program. The authors of the e-mail tell readers to send the money for the travel and show tickets directly to them.

Winfrey’s official show Web site, Oprah.com, has posted a warning that there are several “sweepstakes scams” concerning the show, and that no such program is scheduled.

HALLE BERRY ADDICTED TO BABY CLOTHES

Halle Berry

Halle Berry says she has trouble reigning herself in when it comes to clothes shopping for her 1-year-old baby, Nahla.

Admitting her guiltiest pleasure to May’s Harper’s Bazaar, the Oscar winner, 42, says her current addiction is “very boring, but I buy baby clothes online. Nahla can’t wear all the clothes I’ve bought, and we don’t go anywhere because I can’t deal with the paparazzi.”

Her boyfriend Gabriel Aubrey is sympathetic – though only up to a point. “Gabriel’s always like, ‘She doesn’t even leave the house! Halle, you’ve got to stop,'” says Berry.

But, it’s not just Nahla and the paparazzi that’s keeping Berry inside the house. “I have a 33-year-old man. That’ll keep your mojo mojo-in,” she declares.

Mostly, though, it is Nahla who has her mom tethered to the home. “Having a baby takes so much from you. It’s the most glorious thing you’ll ever do, but the aftermath is not so glorious!” observes Berry. “So now I’m having to exercise, eat a little bit differently.”

ACTOR LEAVES ONE HOUSE FOR ANOTHER

Kal Penn

Shortly after news broke that actor Kal Penn’s character on “House” would be committing suicide, the celeb’s next professional gig was made public – a position in Barack Obama’s White House.

The film and TV star, who campaigned extensively for President Obama and expressed interest in working for his administration, will become an associate director in the White House Office of Public Liason, reports Entertainment Weekly.

The job, which was offered to him a few months ago, calls for “outreach” with the American public and with different organizations.

“They’re basically the front door of the White House. They take out all of the red tape that falls between the general public and the White House,” he told EW of his new colleagues.

The 31-year-old actor, who made his mark as the pot-smoking Kumar in the “Harold and Kumar” feature film comedies, is one of the few Indian-American actors to make it big in Hollywood. He still has a passion for acting, he says, but won’t be appearing on screen for the foreseeable future.

For the past two seasons, Penn played Dr. Lawrence Kuttner on Fox’s medical-mystery drama “House.” His character exited the show in a violent fashion on Monday’s episode by committing suicide for no apparent reason.

QUINCY TO THE MUSIC HALL OF FAME

Quincy Jones

For its 75th birthday, Harlem’s famous Apollo Theater will induct music impresario Quincy Jones and R&B icon Patti LaBelle into its Hall of Fame during a gala concert to take place on June 8.
Steve Harvey will host the festivities, which include a presentation of the Ruby Dee & Ossie Davis Arts and Humanitarian Award to Bill Cosby and his wife, Camille. Previous recipients have included Denzel Washington and his wife, Pauletta, and Spike Lee and Tonya Lewis Lee.
Actor/comedian Jamie Foxx and Mariah Carey will induct Labelle and Jones into the Apollo Legends Hall of Fame, and both Foxx and Carey are scheduled to perform, along with Anita Baker and the O’Jays. The evening will benefit the landmark Harlem theater.

Black History Fact

Apr. 9, 1866: Civil Rights Bill passed over the president’s veto. The bill conferred citizenship on blacks and gave them “the same right, in every State and Territory… as is enjoyed by white citizens.”
______________________________________________________________________________Celebrity Birthdays

Actress Keshia Knight Pulliam (“The Cosby Show”) is 30.

_______________________________________________________________________________Words To the Wise

Freddie Bell, velvet morning voice talent is a mellifluous voice actor, broadcast-journalist, speaker and National Voice Actor. His vast voice over credits, include hosting several radio programs including the Tom Joyner Morning Show, The Love Train, It’s The Gospel in Tampa, The Freddie Bell Morning Show in radio on KSGS – 950AM, Solid Gold Soul in Minneapolis, plus This is Music, The Freddie Bell Countdown Show and The Minneapolis NAACP Community Affairs television Programs in Minneapolis.
Invite Freddie to your next event or seminar as a Keynote Speaker, covering topics including You Gotta Have H.E.A.R.T., Tuning In to R.A.D.I.O, Maximizing Your Potential, Imagination, The Secret Key To Success, Winning Through Community Service, Dreaming Your Way to Success and a variety of topics related to sales and sales management. Freddie shares ideas and techniques he used to propel Solid Gold Soul Radio into a household name.
Be sure to tell a friend about the Solid Gold Soul Update. You can also subscribe on line to have the Update sent to you automatically. Click on the subscribe link on the right of this page. Also visit http://www.youtube.com/freddiebell950 for some video fun. A few of my video favorites are posted there!

Tavis Smiley sent a thank you letter to folks who attended the 10th anniversary celebrations of his State of the Black Union, as well as the Gospel Brunch and Prince concert in Los Angeles held to benefit the Tavis Smiley Foundation.

While informing supporters that the recent fund-raising efforts have brought in almost $225,000 to fund the development of young leaders, Smiley made a point to single out Prince for donating proceeds from his Feb. 28 show at The Conga Room to the cause.

Smiley wrote:

As is common for some philanthropic individuals who donate to charitable and worthy causes, Prince is one of those people who won’t tout his contributions. He just doesn’t do it. He gives to give. In our case, Prince not only donated his time but covered all expenses for the show and mysteriously enough we received another donation matching dollar-for-dollar the six-figure concert proceeds. Guess who?

By now you may know that he has released a new phenomenal 3-CD set, “LotusFlow3r,” which showcases yet again his musical genius. The CD is available exclusively through Target stores nationwide and retails for $11.98 and is slated to reach No. 1 in record sales this week.

Because Prince has carved a creative niche for himself to own his music and to market directly to the public, this project does not have the traditional support of radio or a record label. Hence, you may have not heard any of the CD tracks on your local radio stations. But these circumstances should not prevent the public from hearing about or accessing the work of an artist who is perhaps the greatest of our time.

So I’m asking you as our friends to take a minute to check out his CD for yourself at a Target store or visit Target online at http://www.target.com.

And in addition, later this month Prince is scheduled to be a guest on my television show on PBS to discuss his CD and the challenges facing independent music artists pursuing their right to self-determination. Prince has given to our youth and I need your help to give a little back to him.

Thank you again for your support and for your consideration.
Keep the Faith!
Tavis Smiley

TV ONE LOOKS AT BELL BIV DEVOE

TV One and K2 Pictures have announced the production of “Life After,” a series that will share with viewers the behind-the-scenes story of how celebrities have dealt with major turning points in their lives.

Among those featured in the series will be hip-hop/R&B trio Bell Biv Devoe, telling the story of their life together after making the break from New Edition; Al Reynolds, describing in detail how he re-ignited his career as a business professional after his highly publicized marriage and divorce from Star Jones; actress Jaimee Foxworth, whose life took a rocky path after she left the show “Family Matters” and succumbed to the pressures that consume so many child-stars; actor and martial artist Taimak, star of the film, “The Last Dragon,” offering insight into the special challenges of becoming a cult hero at a young age; and Daryl “Chill” Mitchell, co-star of “The John Larroquette Show” and “Veronica’s Closet,” who has had to overcome great personal challenges since he was paralyzed in a motorcycle accident in 2001.

“Life After will balance joyous moments with painful memories as the show seeks to capture how those featured have both celebrated and enjoyed their fame – and endured their darkest hours,” said TV One Senior Vice President of Original Programming Toni Judkins. “Life After will investigate the ways in which these landmark moments shaped their lives, allowing them to share intimate revelations from the unpredictable journey of life. We look forward to working with K2 Pictures on this project, and are confident they will help us bring some truly remarkable stories to the TV screen.” TV One plans to premiere the eight-episode series in fall 2009.

SAMUEL L. JACKSON UPFRONT

Samuel L. Jackson

Samuel L. Jackson will return as host of the ESPY Awards for the fourth time this summer, following gigs in 1999, 2001 and 2002.
The show, which honors the year’s top sports performances and moments, is moving this year to the Nokia Theatre across from Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles from its longtime home at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood.

CCH Pounder is in talks to play the mother of two sons portrayed by former New York Giants star Michael Strahan and wheelchair-bound actor Darryl Mitchell in the Fox comedy pilot, “Brothers.”

The actress is known for her intense dramatic work on such television shows as “ER” and “The Shield,” but will show off her lighter side as mother of siblings trying to reconnect after Strahan’s character, also a retired NFL player, returns to his hometown. Mitchell’s character is confined to a wheelchair following a car accident.

In the meantime, Pounder next appears on Sci Fi Channel’s new series “Warehouse 13″ in a recurring role and in “Avatar.”

Freddie Bell, velvet morning voice talent is a mellifluous voice actor, broadcast-journalist, speaker and National Voice Actor. His vast voice over credits, include hosting several radio programs including the Tom Joyner Morning Show, The Love Train, It’s The Gospel in Tampa, The Freddie Bell Morning Show in radio on KSGS – 950AM, Solid Gold Soul in Minneapolis, plus This is Music, The Freddie Bell Countdown Show and The Minneapolis NAACP Community Affairs television Programs in Minneapolis.
Invite Freddie to your next event or seminar as a Keynote Speaker, covering topics including You Gotta Have H.E.A.R.T., Tuning In to R.A.D.I.O, Maximizing Your Potential, Imagination, The Secret Key To Success, Winning Through Community Service, Dreaming Your Way to Success and a variety of topics related to sales and sales management. Freddie shares ideas and techniques he used to propel Solid Gold Soul Radio into a household name.
Be sure to tell a friend about the Solid Gold Soul Update. You can also subscribe on line to have the Update sent to you automatically. Click on the subscribe link on the right of this page. Also visit http://www.youtube.com/freddiebell950 for some video fun. A few of my video favorites are posted there!

President Barack Obama flew to Baghdad on Tuesday to meet U.S. military commanders and Iraqi leaders and assess security there first-hand after announcing a strategy to wind down the six-year war he opposed.

Obama’s visit to Baghdad was shrouded in the security-conscious secrecy that marked similar trips made by his predecessor George W. Bush, whose foreign policy legacy was defined by the unpopular war that he launched in 2003 to topple Saddam Hussein.

The visit was not publicized beforehand and was made known only after Air Force One, flying from Istanbul at the end of Obama’s first major international tour, had touched down at Baghdad International Airport.

Obama’s arrival came a day after a string of seemingly coordinated bombings across the Iraqi capital killed 37 people. On Tuesday, a car bomb killed nine people and wounded 20 in the Shi’ite Kadhimiya district of northwest Baghdad, police said.

Under Obama’s new Iraq war strategy, announced in February, the roughly 140,000 U.S. troops now in Iraq will be drawn down to between 35,000 and 50,000 — a number that anti-war critics consider too high — by the end of August 2010. The mission of those left will be redefined mostly to help train Iraqi forces. But they too must leave by the end of 2011.

“This is going to be a critical period, these next 18 months,” Obama said, referring to the Aug 2010 deadline for the withdrawal of combat troops.

“You will be critical in terms of us being able to make sure Iraq is stable, that it is not a safe haven for terrorists, and we can start bringing our folks home,” Obama told troops gathered at Camp Victory, a sprawling U.S. base near the airport.

White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said the top U.S. commander in Iraq, General Ray Odierno, had told Obama that even with the recent spike in bombings, violence was at its lowest level since 2003.

But underscoring the fragile security, U.S. officials ruled out any idea of Obama traveling by motorcade into Baghdad after bad weather forced the cancellation of a planned helicopter trip into the city to meet Iraqi leaders. Instead, Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki went to Camp Victory for talks with Obama.

MICHELLE AND MOM COVER ESSENCE

The upcoming edition of Essence Magazine is featuring a cover story on the First Lady, Michelle Obama and First Grandma, Marian Robinson.

Here are some excerpts from the Essence cover story:

FIRST LADY MICHELLE OBAMA ON…

* ADVANCING THE ROLE OF WOMEN WORLDWIDE: “We have to talk about flex hours and exercise and nutrition and health and what that means. And we have to talk about values, and about our relationships with men. All of those are part of the conversation that I think we need to have, not just in this country but around the world.”

* combating stereotypical images of African-American women: “The women in videos and the stereotypes are just not the truth of who we are as a community. We already know that because we are living these lives every single day. It’s nice to have this reminder in the White House, but I would say we don’t need it…all you need to do is look around your own community and you will see this same family in churches and in schools.”

MRS. MARIAN ROBINSON ON…

* advice on raising children: “The main thing that I think needs to be taught to children is the ability to think and make decisions. You don’t have to have a lot of information, but you have to know how to get through the process. If you make mistakes you don’t [just] decide I will never do that again.”

* enjoying life in the White House: “…I really am. You want to know why? Because my children are good parents. It makes it very easy to be a grandmother when your children are good parents.”

TARHEELS WINS NCAA IN RUNAWAY

Remember when basketball fan #1, President Obama, picked UNC (University of North Carolina) to emerge the victor in the NCAA Mens championship game?

Sorry Coach K (Mike Krzyzewski of Duke Univ.), the Prez was right. Here’s the back story to the Tar Heels road to victory:

For a year, maybe more, North Carolina could feel this national championship coming.

It was a calculated march, and behind the unrelenting play of Tyler Hansbrough, Wayne Ellington and Ty Lawson, the Tar Heels stomped out Michigan State’s inspirational run Monday night with an 89-72 blowout that wasn’t that close.

“I felt like it was fitting for us to do what this group just accomplished,” coach Roy Williams said.

Hansbrough scored 18 points, Ellington had 19 and Lawson led all scorers with 21 and also had a record eight steals. Now, they and Danny Green can all head to the NBA feeling good about their decision to return to school. They’re bringing home Carolina’s fifth championship, and the second for Williams.

All those upperclassmen, save Hansbrough, came back in part because their draft prospects didn’t look so good. They also didn’t want their college careers to end on last year’s embarrassing loss to Kansas in the Final Four. That was a dud of a game in which they trailed 40-12 in the first half and Billy Packer was telling CBS viewers it was over.

This time, North Carolina led 36-13 around the time “Dancing With The Stars” was starting on another network. At least nobody knew how that one was going to end.

This game, though, was a slam dunk. Ellington got choked up as he basked in the confetti. Williams gave a shout-out to his mentor, Dean Smith, and he almost started crying, too. Hansbrough was the first to grab one of those “National Champion” T-shirts. Nobody worked harder for it than him.

“Sounds like I made a pretty good decision,” Hansbrough said. “Nothing beats this feeling right here.”

Likewise, it can’t feel much worse for the Spartans (31-7). They never had a chance. They had been on an uplifting run, and the final chapter was supposed to be the national championship. It would, the storybook said, bring the definitive ray of sunshine to a city and state that’s been battered by an ailing economy.

Freddie Bell, velvet morning voice talent is a mellifluous voice actor, broadcast-journalist, speaker and National Voice Actor. His vast voice over credits, include hosting several radio programs including the Tom Joyner Morning Show, The Love Train, It’s The Gospel in Tampa, The Freddie Bell Morning Show in radio on KSGS – 950AM, Solid Gold Soul in Minneapolis, plus This is Music, The Freddie Bell Countdown Show and The Minneapolis NAACP Community Affairs television Programs in Minneapolis.
Invite Freddie to your next event or seminar as a Keynote Speaker, covering topics including You Gotta Have H.E.A.R.T., Tuning In to R.A.D.I.O, Maximizing Your Potential, Imagination, The Secret Key To Success, Winning Through Community Service, Dreaming Your Way to Success and a variety of topics related to sales and sales management. Freddie shares ideas and techniques he used to propel Solid Gold Soul Radio into a household name.
Be sure to tell a friend about the Solid Gold Soul Update. You can also subscribe on line to have the Update sent to you automatically. Click on the subscribe link on the right of this page. Also visit http://www.youtube.com/freddiebell950 for some video fun. A few of my video favorites are posted there!

Radar Online says it has learned exclusively that Chris Brown, 19, will plead not guilty to two felony charges at his scheduled arraignment today in connection with his alleged beating of his girlfriend Rihanna.

The incident happened this past February in the early morning hours on Grammy Day in the tony Hancock Park section of Los Angeles.

While Brown has been staying in his hometown with family and old friends, Rihanna has been globetrotting – traveling in the past several days to Hawaii, New York and her native Barbados.

“She’s home,” the singer’s father Ronald Fenty tells People of the singer, who was photographed at the island’s international airport on Friday wearing a long, gauzy beige dress, white sunglasses and sandals. “She is in good spirits. And she sounds great.”

After several days of clubbing and house-hunting in L.A., Rihanna was photographed early last week in Honolulu “sporting a new textured, bed-head hairstyle and wearing a chic blue jacket,” reported People. On Thursday she was in New York, “casually dressed in jeans and sunglasses and smiling for cameras after having dinner with several friends at Italian eatery Da Silvano, where a source describes her as seeming ‘happy – classy, polite, beautiful.'”

TYRA SHOWS SPARKS PALIN ANGST

Tyra Banks

The 18-year-old former boyfriend of Sarah Palin’s daughter Bristol had a lot to say about their relationship on “The Tyra Banks Show,” and the ex’s camp is not happy.

In the show, airing today (April 6), Levi Johnston tells Banks that he believes Sarah Palin knew he and Bristol, 18, were having sex when they lived under her roof.

Camp Palin released a statement expressing outrage about Johnston’s interview.

“Bristol did not even know Levi was going on the show. We’re disappointed that Levi and his family, in a quest for fame, attention, and fortune, are engaging in flat-out lies, gross exaggeration, and even distortion of their relationship,” says the statement from Palin family rep, Meghan Stapleton.

“Bristol’s focus will remain on raising Tripp, completing her education, and advocating abstinence,” the statement continues. “It is unfortunate that Levi finds it more appealing to exploit his previous relationship with Bristol than to contribute to the well being of the child.”

The statement ends, saying, “Bristol realizes now that she made a mistake in her relationship and is the one taking responsibility for their actions.”

Johnston’s mother, Sherry, and sister Mercede, join him on “The Tyra Banks Show,” and discuss the gag order imposed on them during Palin’s vice presidential campaign. “We were supposed to say that all questions need be brought up to the McCain campaign. Other than that we had to say ‘no comment,'” explains Mercede.

In separate Palin family drama, the half sister of Palin’s husband Todd was accused of breaking into the same Wasilla, Alaska, house twice to steal money, the Associated Press reports. Diana Palin, 35, was charged with felony burglary and misdemeanor criminal trespass and theft stemming from two break-ins this week.

GLADYS KNIGHT DOING BAD

Gladys Knight

Tyler Perry has added veteran entertainer Gladys Knight and gospel singer Marvin Winans to the cast of his latest film “I Can Do Bad All by Myself,” an adaptation of his early stage play.

In the story, Perry’s iconic Madea character discovers a 16-year-old girl (Hope Olaide Wilson) and her brothers looting her home and sends them to live with their Aunt April, a hard-drinking nightclub singer played by Oscar nominee Taraji P. Henson.

Knight will play Wilma, a matriarch of the neighborhood and singer at Marshall Baptist Church, where Madea also frequents. Knight, Winans and Blige will sing in the film, with Blige performing an original song penned by Ne-Yo, according to the Hollywood Reporter.

“CSI: Miami” star Adam Rodriguez has also joined the cast of the Lionsgate project, which is currently shooting at Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta for a Sept. 11 release. Brian White, Kwesi Nii-Lante Boakye and Frederick Siglar round out the cast.

Knight recently made a cameo appearance on NBC’s “30 Rock.” She last appeared on the big screen in “Hollywood Homicide.”

Black History Fact

Apr. 6, 1909: Matthew Henson reached the North Pole. Traveling with the Admiral Peary Expedition, Henson, with his exceptional navigational skills managed to reach the North Pole almost 45 minutes before Peary and the rest of the men.
______________________________________________________________________________Celebrity Birthdays

Actor Billy Dee Williams is 72

_______________________________________________________________________________Words To the Wise

“If you want the rainbow, you’ve got to put up with the rain.” — Jimmy Durante